HeartBleed bugs in simple terms

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The Heartbleed bug has been in the news a lot lately, and there are a lot of technical and poorly worded non-technical explanations. 

So here is a brief summary of what you NEED to know.

The vulnerability affects versions of OPEN SSL which means that sites containing HTTPS may have been affected.  (Not all sites use open SSL.)

For a list of sites that you NEED to change your password on, please visit.  http://mashable.com/2014/04/09/heartbleed-bug-websites-affected/

If you have a Cisco home router check this site to see if you are affected. http://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20140409-heartbleed

The bug basically was a vulnerability in an ongoing communication timer to make sure that the connection stayed open.  It allowed nefarious individuals to use this timer to steal data in small packets over time.  The length of time this vulnerability has been on the market is scary.  Please change your passwords soon.

If you need a way to keep track of your passwords there are many apps and programs that can help you do this. 

KeePass (PC,MAC)

Last Pass (Multi-platform, free and paid versions)

iOS devices
http://appadvice.com/appguides/show/Best-iPad-Password-Keeper

Android
http://www.talkandroid.com/guides/beginner/top-4-android-password-manager-apps-october-2013/



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